DING, DONG THE RAIL IS DEAD - "Gov. Rick Scott's decision Wednesday to reject $2.4 billion that would have helped finance high-speed rail drew a swift rebuke from the politicians and business interests who had pushed for the project. 'It's a terrible decision, truly the worst decision I've ever seen by a governor in my 26 years in public life,' said Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio. 'It's wrong on so many levels, where do I begin?'" St. Pete Times: http://bit.ly/euX412

-- The push to bypass: "Supporters of high-speed rail in Florida are scrambling to salvage a planned link between Tampa and Orlando after Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday he was refusing $2.4 billion in federal money for the project. The rejection drew swift condemnation from most Democrats and some Republicans. State officials had hoped to expand high-speed rail to Jacksonville by following either the CSX rail line or interstates 4 and 95. But the Tampa-Orlando and Orlando-Miami links had to be built first. It now appears nothing will happen. U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said they are still looking into ways to get the system built. …Federal officials are looking into other options, including the possibility of creating an authority among the involved cities where the $2.4 billion could flow." Florida Times-Union: http://bit.ly/dSx8pB

-- White House reax: "We think that is an unfortunate decision," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said. "This goes right to the essence of what we have been talking about here. There has been a lot of bipartisan support for the need to create the kind of modern infrastructure in this country that will enable us to compete. High speed rail is very much a part of that and we will make sure that that money is used elsewhere to advance the infrastructure and innovation agenda that is essential for economic growth." http://huff.to/gncVRJ

-- Lawmakers: “I don’t know constitutionally speaking whether or not this can be rejected by the governor without the consent of the Legislature," state Sen. David Simmons, a Maitland Republican, told the Orlando Sentinel. His comments were echoed by numerous lawmakers who expressed alarm at Scott's "seeming disregard for the Legislature's appropriating power." http://bit.ly/dFnkpC Early Scott backer Sen. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican whose husband has led the push for high speed rail in the state for years, was dismayed. "Florida is a donor state for transportation dollars, receiving only 62 cents on every transit dollar and 87 cents on every highway dollar we send to Washington, and this $2.4 billion in federal transportation dollars would have brought Florida in line with other states." Sunshine State News: http://bit.ly/ezs7yw

-- Who influenced decision? Did Scott's rail 'feasibility study' entail a through review of a January 2011 report from the Reason Foundation, a libertarian group that has frequently expressed skepticism of rail? Miami Herald: http://bit.ly/h0T2F5 Saint Petersblog says the group is talking out both sides of its mouth. http://bit.ly/gNVixN

-- Opinions: "The consequences of Scott's grandstanding are clear. More than $2.4 billion from Washington? Gone. Five thousand construction jobs? Gone. A modern transportation link between two of the largest cities in the fourth-largest state? Gone. Thousands of additional jobs serving the line; billions of dollars more in private-sector investment; and the chance for an ever bigger bang by extending the system from Orlando to Miami? Gone, gone, gone." St. Pete Times: http://bit.ly/fIqxtU He's "a different kind of leader," pens William March. http://bit.ly/fCfcx8 Democrats are to blame for making reaction political, writes Kenric Ward at Sunshine State News. http://bit.ly/gYxWix

-- NEW YORK THRILLED: "We are writing to request that New York State receive a portion of the $2.4 billion in high-speed rail funds that the state of Florida was awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," read a letter from Reps. Louis Slaughter and Paul Tonko, both Democrats. The Hill: http://bit.ly/esQlpX

Good Thursday morning and welcome to Florida morning, your daily digest of political news from around the Sunshine State. The same day Gov. Rick Scott ignited a firestorm with his plans to scuttle high speed rail, a Democratic lawmaker introduced legislation that would allow voters to recall the governor. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV borrows an old missile from Dad's arsenal and the Tampa Chamber expresses its irritation with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

SHADES OF GREY (DAVIS)? - “Engaged citizens deserve the tools to hold their public servants accountable without having to wait for the next election,” said Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, announcing he had filed legislation that would allow recall of state legislators, cabinet members and the governor. “Honest and dedicated elected officials will have nothing to fear from the implementation of this important proposal.” News Service of Florida: http://bit.ly/hFupiX

HEY BUDDY, REMEMBER DAD'S STRATEGY? - It worked in 1988, when Connie Mack III edged Buddy McKay to win Lawton Chiles' U.S. Senate seat. Nearly 23 years later, Connie Mack IV is apparently looking to revive the family tagline, "Hey Buddy, you're a liberal." Brent Batten reports that an e-mail from Friends of Connie Mack, Mack's campaign fundraising organization, was blasted out with the headline, "Top 10 Signs That You Are A Liberal." It's targeted at U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, of course, and is the latest indicator Mack is gearing up for a run. Naples Daily News: http://bit.ly/eJFCmN

LET'S GET PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL - House Speaker John Boehner and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie might want to steer clear of Florida. Actually, the Republican lawmakers would likely be fine - neither would likely be on Medicaid. But for poor Floridians who smoke or carry a few extra pounds, failure to reform their ways may begin to cost them. State Sen. Don Gaetz told reporters today that people should be required to follow their doctors orders, or face the consequences. Two examples cited: smoking and dropping pounds. Florida Independent: http://bit.ly/dFI44M

COUNTRY ROAD - Tallahassee lawmakers aren't the only state legislators perturbed by Gov. Rick Scott. Thirteen members of the West Virginia House of Delegates have introduced a measure calling on Scott to reverse his stance on instituting a prescription pill database. "We know that unless we get help from the state of Florida, our ability to interdict [those drugs] is very limited," House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue said. The Democrat doesn't appear overly impressed by Florida's governor. "He's got blinders on of a size and dimension I cannot imagine," Perdue said. West Virginia Gazette: http://bit.ly/g7RlrD

TAMPA CHAMBER IRKED WITH RUBIO - "Amendment 61 creates an unfair competitive disadvantage to businesses outside of the Miami area," Robert Rohrlack, chief executive officer of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce wrote Rubio. "Your constituencies in Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Key West and many other cities across the state endure burdensome cost and inconvenience when traveling to Cuba." http://bit.ly/ei73It

PENSION REFORM - "Two new state Senate bills would require state and local governments to close their traditional retirement plans to new hires, enroll all employees in 401(k)-style plans and limit retirement options. The two proposals, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Ring, Margate Democrat and chairman of the Senate Government Accountability Committee, are intended to help local governments shore up their tottering employee retirement accounts as well as relieve the mounting financial obligation local and state governments have made to their retirees. If passed, the changes would take effect July 1." Miami Herald: http://bit.ly/heyhMO

A WIN FOR ROONEY - "Right here, right now was a surefire way to reduce spending," trumpeted Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida, after 47 Republican freshmen joined with him to cut money from the F-35 fighter jet project, the most expensive weapons project in U.S. history. President Barack Obama sided with the upstart Republicans, while House Speaker John Boehner and other GOP leaders backed the funding. Washington Post: http://wapo.st/eoIcZ0

HOWARD TROXLER - "The moral of the story is that Tallahassee always knows best. Republicans who complain about 'big government' only mean big Democratic government — when they're the ones doing the bossing around, it's just fine." http://bit.ly/fYChfm

Florida Morning will listen in on former Gov. Jeb Bush today. He's in Jacksonville to keynote the inaugural 2011 luncheon for NAIOP, the region's trade association of developers, owners and professionals of commercial, industrial and mixed-use real estate. Don't forget to pass along your praise, insults and tips. You can reach us at abel.harding@jacksonville.com or find us on the Twitters, @abelharding. New followers include @AdamUrra, @jaxpol999, @myammc, @mmccollum1 and @MikeErtel.

QUOTE OF THE DAY - "I was afraid and almost mugged using the train between Ft Laud and Miami airport - never again! Glad the Gov put on the brakes!" - a tweet from Cindy Graves, president of Florida Federation of Republican Women, explaining her opposition to high speed rail.

I love the idiots that compare this project to Amtrak. Amtrak primarily deals in long distance. This would be just for the state of Florida. Ask anyone who lives in California or the Northeast if they ride the train. So many people use it in those areas. It's a shame that we are OK with being left behind.

If Orlando and Tampa think it is such a great idea that we can't do without, then let them go borrow the money to build it. Because right now the Federal Gov. doesn't have the money. They will have to get it from somewhere and that means more borrowing that you and I will have to repay. I would rather feed my family and pay my rent than pay them more money for something I won't see in my town.